The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-08-09
FROM THE BIG BRIDGE.
James Martins PEI ilOus Flight
Through 12O Feet of
Space.

New York, Aug. 4-When young james
Martin slipped into his well-daubed paint
er's everalls early yesterday morning and
started for his job on the big bridge, he
had no idea that he was making large,
well-defned tracks On glory's path, or that
he was going to knock out the records Of
Steve Brodie and Larry Donovan. James
is only seventeen years old, short.
slender and smooth-faced, with light
brown hair and eyes with never a
spark of sporting fire in them. For
the last two years he has been an ap-
prentice with his uncle, Dick Lambert, boss
painter of the gang who are always at
work on the East River bridge. Six men
were engaged yesterday in laying fresh
mixture of pale olive on the iron frame
work that supports the railroad track on
the north side of the bridge. They were
about $50 feet east of the New York tower
James Martins duty was to carry "color"
to them.
At 1920 he climbed along the wide gaps
in the framework with two pots of freshly
mixed, oliye-hued paint in his left hand.
It's enough to make an ordinary mans
spine vibrate to see the way the painters
climb around on the framework but they
are used to ii and don't mind their great
elevation bit. James was just as smart
as any of them. Steadying himself with
his right hand on ore of the brick stays OF
twisted iron he started TO cross the rail-
road track. He was so used to climbing
around that he didn't notice his foot
come down on bit of freshly painted iron.
1t slipped, be toppled over sideways, and
before he knew il James and his two
pots of olive paint went flying down to the
RIVER. He had no time to cry out, and he
splashed into the river in Just two and two
fifth seconds. He fell 120 feet. He made
two complete revolutions on the way down,
and he was almost doubled up in knot
when he struck. The beautiful olive paint
spread out and enjoyed q few seconds
quiet sail, and then was churned out OF
sight in the rough ebb tide.
Just as james made big hole in the
East River the tug William Cox came
along, bucking the tide with two barges OF
coal on her port side and two barges OF
cement to starboard. Fireman Charles
Cummings, of the tug, heard yell from
The men on the tow and rushed out In time
to see James disappear. He ran across the
barges and, without waiting to take
of so much as his heavy shoes
plunged in. Both men came to the sur
face at the same time. Cummings grabbed
Martin, who was unconscious, and tried to
tow him towards the barges. He lost his
grip and Martin sank again, Once more
Cummings dived for him, caught hold of
his collar and brought him TO the surface.
By this time the tide had helped swing
them toward the canal-boats, and men
threw lines to them. Cummings tied Mar
tin so that he could be hauled out and then
climbed aboard.
The painter lad was taken to the barge
Charles A. Poole, alongside Dover street
dock, and laid out on deck. He soon came
| to and was able to talk little In whis-
pers. Policeman Finn rang for an am
bulance and DR.. KimbaIl came with it.
By the time it arrived Martin was able
to walk fifty yards and climb in
with a little help. Cummings skipped
back aboard his tug and sailed away as il
he was in the habit of hauling out drown
ing men before dinner every day. AT the
Chambers Street Hospital it was found that
Martin had sustained no hurt beyond the
scraping Of his left leg, which was done as
he fell of. He will go TO work to-day OF
tomorrow and he won't be locked for lost
time or the two pots of olive paint.
Steve Brosie were among the few anx-
ious inquirers for Martins safety and was
disguised 10 find that an accident to a boy
had utterly demolished his fame. Ii
showed conclusively that all man has to
do to flop safely from the big bridge to the
river is to ramble along carelessly with
two pots of olive paint in his left hand
and stub his toe